'Given him the all clear when he shouldn't have': Knights trainer cops heat after Fletcher Sharpe injury leads to try
Updated . First published at
LAS VEGAS: The decision from a Newcastle trainer to leave an injured Fletcher Sharpe on the field has come back to bite the Knights on Sunday afternoon (AEDT).
Sharpe suffered a knee injury mid-way through the first half at Allegiant Stadium and was spotted hobbling in the defensive line with very limited movement.
He was attended to by a Knights trainer during a stoppage in play, but was cleared to stay on the field and moments later, Heilum Luki ran straight past a wounded Sharpe to score North Queensland's first try of the match.
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Fletcher Sharpe with a Knights trainer in Las Vegas. Getty
Sharpe left the field after the try was scored, but the damage was already done.
"The trainer's given him the all clear when he shouldn't have ... he could hardly get off the try line, he's in extreme pain," Braith Anasta said on Fox League.
"We're concerned at this point (when he got injured) he should not stay on the field. He gets cleared by the trainer, which we were sceptical about, and then it leads to a try."
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It was quickly reported by sideline reporter Lara Pitt that the 21-year-old's knee was "stable" and the Knights were hopeful it wasn't a serious injury.
Head coach Justin Holbrook told media post-game that it was a suspected PCL issue.
Sharpe wasn't the only player to be forced off in a chaotic first half.
Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater was left in agony with a rib issue and went up the tunnel after less than 20 minutes of action in Vegas.
It forced a reshuffle for Todd Payten's side, with youngster Jaxon Purdue switching to fullback - but it only lasted for a brief period before Drinkwater was cleared to return.
Scott Drinkwater leaves the field. Fox League
Thomas Mikaele was also taken from the field after a tackle that saw Knights veteran Tyson Frizell placed on report for a cannonball.
Newcastle struck first in the season opener after Sharpe pounced on a pinpoint kick from captain Kalyn Ponga, who looked dangerous in the early exchanges.
Greg Marzhew then made it a 12-0 lead for the Knights, before throwing the ball into the crowd like an NFL quarterback to celebrate.
Luki's try in the 25th minute was quickly followed by Murray Taulagi touching down in the corner to level the scores for North Queensland by half time.
